For those of you who had questions, here's what you should be doing over this break...1. You will still be doing your weekly assignments ("60 Minutes," "The Amazing Race," "The Pacific"). You can post your answers to tonight's shows here.2. Read up to page 57 in "To America" -- in other words, the first 4 chapters.3. Vocabulary Sentences -- I will post the words for those of you not here on Friday (Randy, Katherine) in a separate posting. You will need to post sentences, by Thursday night, as usual, along with the parts of speech -- just like last week.4. Keep in mind the events that are going to occur right after you return from break. The Thursday you return is the Honor Role trip. I encourage everyone to come. You should never pass up a chance to visit a college (or play laser tag!) Permission slips were given out on Friday but if you didn't get one, you need to get it immediately on Wednesday because we are leaving at 7am on Thursday and you cannot go without a permission slip. There is a limit to how many kids can go, so if you want to go, remember to bring in your permission slip (or if you weren't in school/didn't get one, let me know that you want to go). It's going to be on a first-come, first-serve basis. On the Friday we get back, we have our trip to the Global Kids Annual Youth Conference (yes, the same as zoo day). If you have a deep desire to go to the zoo, go during break. I don't want to hear complaining. The zoo is nice but the the seminar we are attending is more important. It is required that you go to the seminar. If you have a reason that you can't go, please let me know. I think that's about all. Have a nice break!

I'm sorry, but did anyone notice that during the "60 Minutes" episode on the rich Russian guy, they used the word "pulchritude?" They said he had a "penchant for pulchritude" -- in other words, a love of beautiful women... I love when vocabulary words show up in our shows... :)

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Andreina

3/29/2010 02:43:00 am

The Case Against Nada Prouty

1a. Nada Prouty was being talked about because she was a former FBI and CIA agent who was accused of helping terrorist by passing secret information.

1b. I learned that Nada Prouty was a secret agent who was accused of passing down secret information even though she risked her life and the life of her unborn child fighting terrorist herself. I also leaned that in order to become a FBI and CIA agent you need two years of background check. In addition, I learned that the government takes espionage and terrorist threats really serious; especially if a person is related to a person who is suspected to be a terrorist.

1c. My opinion about Nada Prouty case is that the action of taking away her citizenship was a bit extreme and fair. Yes, Nada Prouty cheated the system by gaining her citizenship by arranging a fake marriage but she also fought to keep our country safe. In my opinion she should have been able to keep her citizenship but with limitations because want she did when she was young but she was young when she did it.

The Russian Is Coming

2a. Mikhail Prokhorov was being talked about because he is Russia richest man and wants to invest his money by buying the New Jersey Nets which is a basketball team.

2b. I learned that Mikhail Prokhorov is the richest man from Russia who is constantly trying out new things and his newest investment is buying the New Jersey Nets and making it better.

2c. My opinion about Mikhail Prokhorov is that he is a womanizer who only wants a woman who well spend the rest of her life cooking for him. He just wants a good housewife even though those weren’t his exact words; however who can blame him. He is rich and can have any woman he wants. My suggestion for him is to look for her somewhere other then clubs. I think he has what it takes to make the New Jersey Nets better when though I am not a huge basketball fan the Nets needs a lot of him and no MS.Cohen I did not notice the word pulchritude because I was too busy having my own little riot about the way he is with women =].

The Sharkman

3a. Rutzen was being talked about because he is a man who is researching the behaviors of Great White Sharks to prove to the world that sharks are not as bad as many of us believe.

3b. I learned that sharks aren’t hostile animals that as soon they see movement they want to attack. They are just curious if you do not bother them they would not bother you. They do not like the feel of metal and compared to all the sharks in the sea there are only about five deaths related to Sharks.I also learned that every year about 7 million sparks are slaughtered to make Shark fin soup and many Sharks have their fin cut off alive and are thrown back to sea.

3c. I felt bad for the Spark that were being slaughtered because it seem so helpless. I want to swim with sparks like Rutzen. Step one, learn how to swim. Step two, get over my fear of swimming in the sea. Sharks look so beautiful and at peace under water and their eyes with the blue outline is beautiful too.

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Andreina

3/29/2010 05:31:34 am

I couldn’t help but notice how unhappy the soldiers looked when they were home. Well maybe they didn’t look of unhappy maybe it was just that they were just tired and seen too much horrible things. The guy that was due to receive the medal looked depressed and sad for the loss of his friend he was even drinking and rebelling. Three main things that came to my mind during the show. One is that my heart goes to all the army wives because it must be horrible being with a person you love and then seeing them go not knowing if they will ever come back and with that note another thought came to mind. Soldiers who are not finished doing there duty in the military should not bond or get close to anyone because they are always coming and going but they naturally do it anyways. It is what keeps them going but at the same time curses them. Lastly, war just takes and kills people. War is the enemy and the disease that everyone just has to deal with.

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Andreina

3/29/2010 05:56:37 am

1. The contestants started the race in Reims, France. It is located in the continent of Europe.

2. The contestants traveled from Reims, France to the island of Mahe in The Seychelles. Then to the island of La Digue and lastly to the island of Praslin. These island are next to the continent of Africa.

3. What I found interesting was how beautiful all the islands were and how clear and the clean the oceans were. I really hope next year for summer search The Seychelles is one of the options. I also found it hilarious how the turtle that Carol and Brandy had was so mean and snappy. I also didn’t know that turtles liked bananas.

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Katherine

3/29/2010 08:24:02 am

1. They began the racein Reims, France. This is on the continent of Europe.

2. From there they traveled to three different islands, ending in the island of Praslin. These islands are around th continent of Africa.

3. One thing I ask myself is howcome on T.V the ocean water always looks so beautiful, and blue. Then when you go to the beach or something its all green and dirty with nasty little things in the water! Are there really places where the water looks the way it shows on T.V?

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Katherine

3/29/2010 09:46:10 am

The Case Against Nada Prouty

1a. This issue was discussed because this woman was accused of being a terrorist spy.

1b. I learned that this woman, Nada Prouty, went on the most dangerous missions that the U.S had. Prouty even went on a kmission while being pregnant, demonstrating her desire and love to help the country. Her teacher was the one who suggested to her to become part of the FBI, then in 2003 she joined the CIA. Nada Pouty became one of the United States most experienced officers. She was accused of reading private documents without authorization, and passing on the information to others. Before you can become part of the FBI, they have to do a background search, basicly looking to see if you have done in crimes in the past, and they found that she had made an arranged marriage to obtain her green card.The prosecuters that accused her of spying for terrorist were rewarded for their investigating on her. While the CIA proved her inncoent of doing so, the judge holding her case had to take her citizenship away because that was law, but did not throw her in jail.

1c. I think that what was done to her is completely wrong. I personaly feel she is innocent and that the prosecutors who made her go through this should get investigated. Nada Prouty should be rewarded for taking such risks for the country. I really liked this episode.

The Russian Is Coming

2a. This topic was disscussed because it seems that they couldn't find a better person to inerview. They find him interesting because he is going to buy the New Jersey Nets basket ball team.

2b. This Russian is 6.7 feet tall. He is the richest man in Russia, he likes to do risky things. His name is Mikhail Prokhorov.

2c. I have no comment on this part. I just abhored it.

The Sharkman

3a. This topic is being disscussed because this man is very brave and has discovered things about the dangerous White sharks that weren't known.

3b. I learned that this man Rutzen swims with Sharks without any cage. He began doing this fifteen years ago. Every year 70 MILLION sharks are slaughtered, their fins are cut off and thrown back in the sea while still alive! I learned that sharks feel threatened by the size of what ever is next to them, the bigger the size the mor threat they feel. Sharks don't eat humans because they are part of the food chain, they only attack because they feel threatned. Rutzen also says that the shark has to feel that you are not afraid and calm. I also learned that you should not run away from these kinds of animals, you need to feel calm and make eye contatc with them.

3c. Wow, maybe we really do misinterpret many things, especially the behaviors of wild animals. If there were to be more people like Mike Rutzen, then we would learn many more things. This is osmething that I would love to do, eben if it means I would probably pee on my pants while watching them so close. I found it funny when Mike said that he feels he will die early, but not because of ebing attacked by a white shark, but because he drinks and smokes too much, and drives his car to fast. Animals like these are amazing, there should be more of these then the little nasty insects.

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Justin

3/31/2010 12:29:17 am

60 Minutes

The Case of Nada Prouty

1a.This topic is being discussed to show the issues that Nada Prouty faced during her career.

1b. I learned that she was a FBI agent and then she became a CIA officer. She is considered very brave due to the fact that she interrogated a terrorist that killed over twenty people. The terrorist is now in a Colorado jail and he is only aloud to go outside for one hour a day. I also learned that during one of her missions, she was pregnant. She put her own baby at danger. Her career tumbled down when the government suspected that she was plotting a terrorist attack. It is mainly due to her brother but they thought she had some type of association with him. She lost so many rights and due to this, the government figured out that she faked her marriage to get into the United States.

1c. I think she is a brave women but I also think that the choices she made in life weren’t right. I understand why she faked her marriage but in the end, her lies came back to her. I also think she is crazy for putting her unborn child at risk. She knows she was wrong too now that she reflects on it. Is she still a CIA officer?

The Russian is Coming

2a. This topic is about the life of a buisness man and adrenaline junkie.

2b. I learned that he is suppose to buy the worst basketball team (I wouldn’t know) ever, the New Jersey Nets. He is a six feet eight inch adrenaline junkie that is always up for a challenge but he has another side to him, which is the buisness side. I learned that he might be the richest Russian man and he doesn’t even know how much he is worth. I also learned that the only types of women he like are the ones that can cook.

2c. I think he should have at least a good idea of how much money he has. If he is considered the richest Russian man, he should have a good idea. I think he has a lot going for him because he is into everything. He likes sports and he likes buisness so he will have something to fall back on. I personally don’t like the qualities he looks for in women. Just because someone can cook good doesn’t mean they’re a good person. I think he needs to find other qualities and just add a good cooker as a plus.

The Sharkman

3a. This topic is being discussed to show what this man discovered about the “Great White Shark.”

3b. I learned that sharks have bad vision (something I can relate too). They rely on their mouth to navigate. That usually doesn’t turn out good for the thing in its way. There are only five shark attacks per year.3c. I think this guy is very brave. He works with sharks and you have to have a certain amount of confidence to do that. I just know that I would never do it. I also want to know why he doesn’t think there is a risk of him dying from a shark attack. He thinks he is going to die because he drinks and smokes too much. I personally do think that it is a greater chance of him dying because of a shark attack. Also, if you know you’re going to die because you smoke or drink too much, why do it?

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Justin

3/31/2010 12:29:51 am

The Amazing Race

1. The contestants started in Reims, France which is located on the continent of Europe.

2. From France, they traveled to so many different islands. They are next to the continent of Africa.

3. I am upset that the cowboys are in last place. They made so many different mistakes. They need to step up their game because they have a speed bump next leg and I don’t think that’s going to work out good. It was funny how everyone was missing coconuts. I also want to know what the seven theme was. I didn’t understand that. All I know is that all their prizes ended with a seven.

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Justin

3/31/2010 12:42:47 am

The Pacific

I do agree with Angie when she said they were unhappy when they were home and it is because of the horrible things that they’ve been through. I also think that maybe they looked that way because they wanted to go back. They weren’t comfortable anymore as you saw with some of the soldiers. Maybe they just want to stay in a war setting. Some adjusted better and some didn’t. Sometimes soldiers are immune to the adrenaline and the killing.

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Ms. Cohen

3/31/2010 01:17:52 am

Justin, 1. Nada Prouty is no longer a CIA agent.2. Drinking and smoking and sometimes, people literally can't stop, even though they know it's bad for them.3. I don't know that soldiers are "immune" to the killing, I just think that some control their fears long enough to do their jobs. There aren't many men who come home from war and don't have nightmares about what they've seen -- they're all changed forever.

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Andrew

4/2/2010 10:38:31 am

1. In this leg of the race the contestants started in Reims, France. France is located on the continent of Europe.

2. They then went to The Seychelles Islands. These Islands are located in Africa.

3. That place was beautiful. The water, the islands, the whole scenery came together. Poor cowboys, they had to swim about more than the length of a football field. If only they did not forget the bottle. Why does everyone hate the Carol and Brandy. What did they ever do to people. I mean they speak what they are thinking. Maybe their just a little too open minded.

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Andrew

4/2/2010 11:43:30 am

60 Minutes Nada Prouty

1a. This story is being discussed because Nada Prouty is being charged of being a spy and supporting terrorism.

1B. They are accusing her because of her sisters husbands friend being on a terrorist list. She has also got married to stay in the U.S.A. so that she does not have to go back to Lebanon.

1c. This is is bogus. How they blame her for having to do with terrorist attacks. Every one has hidden pasts or things they did wrong. Its how she fixed that up and she is now a loyal, well was a loyal CIA agent.

The Russian is coming

2a. This story is being talked about because this man is so rich that he can treat a hundred dollar bill as if it were one dollar bill. He is one of the richest men in Russia.

2b. This man is going to buy the Nets. He has 17 Billion dollars. This man does not really care about anything. Don't get me wrong he is not a push-over, but he does not take things too seriously. He loves sports, he cant get enough of them.

2c. This man is very lucky. Hes rich he is happy, and he is on top of the world. Or at least in his country. Soon to be introduced to the United States.

Shark man

3a. This story is about a man who devotes his life to Sharks. He goes in with o protection and interacts with sharks.

3b. This man thinks tat Sharks are not dangerous and are like any other not carnivore creature. He believes tht they are curious, and so he will be curious too. I have also found out from the video that hes no rocket scientist. He was born on a farm and knew nothing about sharks.

3c. Well you know what they say curiosity killed the cat. This man better be careful. One day he could think that a shark is curious when its really just hungry and bite him. That camera wont hold up for long. Hey at he is doing what he loves.